Apparatus for heat sealing packages



1968 R. WATTS, JR.. ET AL 3,404,511

APPARATUS FOR HEAT SEALING PACKAGES Filed Dec. 6. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS R/DLEY WATTS, JR. JOHN F. BERRY Oct. 8, 1968 R. WATTS, JR. ET AL 3,404,511

APPARATUS FDR HEAT SEALING PACKAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet z Filed Dec. 6. 1965 DJ. @T n W mMM W M mmww mm 99 /0 6 R 1 h l M I H H it- L 1. I" 1 y HHW WIJ wl l l llllllllllllllllll C w 63 mm Oct. 8, 1968 R.WATTS, JR. ET AL 3,404,511.

APPARATUS FOR HEAT SEALING PACKAGES Filed Dec. 6. 1965 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS fizz L7 R/DLE Y WATTSMR.

JOHN FBERRY w/ma m w Oct. 8, 1968 R. WATTS, JR. ETAI- 3,404,511

APPARATUS FOR HEAT SEALING PACKAGES Filed Dec. 6. 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS R/DLEY WATTS, JR. JOHN FBERRY 'Gd. 8, 11968 R, WATTS, JR" ET AL 3,404,511

APPARATUS FOR HEAT SEALING PACKAGES F'iled Dec. 6. 1965 5 Shets-Sheet 5 HUT- //\/VENTOR5 RID/.EY WATTS, JR. JOHN FBERRY United States PatentO APPARATUS FOR HEAT SEALING PACKAGES RidleyWatts. Jr., Cleveland, and John F. Berry,

Bedford,"hio, assignors to The American Packaging Corporation Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,944 11 Claims. (Cl. 53-373) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus including a track, a feeding mechanism and heat-sealing pressure platens for conveying and sealing card-type packages, in which the platens, track and feeding mechanism are angularly adjustable to select the angle at which a package will be oriented during processing.

This invention relates generally to article packaging, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for closing heat-scalable display packages.

The invention is particularly concerned with methods and apparatus for sealing unit display packages of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,053,023. The package disclosed in that patent combines the advantages of skin, blister, and .shrink packaging and consists of a foldover display card having mating product-receiving apertures in each half of the card. The product is positioned within the apertures of the double faced card so that it is snugly gripped and is covered completely by a protective pocket of plastic film, such as polyethylene. With this arrangement the product may selectively project and be visible from either one or both faces of the finished package.

Informing the display packages described above, the polyethylene film is preferably adhered to the back of the card over the product-receiving apertures. Portions of the film are softened and brought through the card apertures to form pockets having the contour of the product to be packaged. After the pockets have been formed in this manner, the card is folded so that the mating pockets of each card half cooperate to define a product-contoured chamber and then the product is inserted in the chamber and the card halves secured together to complete the package.

Among the important advantages of the above-described display package is its simplicity and the economies which result from the product manufacturer being able to package his own merchandise without first making a sub; stantial investment in packaging equipment. Methods and apparatus that enhance those manufacturing economies by providing relatively inexpensive equipment and improved techniques have been disclosed in the copending application of Ridley Watts, Jr., et al., Ser. No. 316,765,

filed Oct. 15, 196-3, and entitled Methods and Apparatus for Sealing Packages. The present invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed therein. In this improvement, the many advantages of the earlier invention are retained while the versatility and usefulness are increased.

"This invention contemplates sealing display packages of the general type described by applying heat and pressure tothe outer facesof both card halves. The heat and pressure are maintained for a length of time sufiicient to effect. aseal. The seal iselfected by softening the plastic film and/or other heat softenable adhesive if present and thereby sealing the card halves together.

According to the preferred embodiment of the apparatus the heat and pressure are applied by a pair of heated platens that are pivotally mounted on horizontal axes. This provides a compact assembly in which both platens can be pivotally moved in positively coordinated relationship relative to an independently supported card.

A folded card is independently supported between the heated platens in a plane between and common to both platens when'th'ey are in closed position. The card and platens can be oriented in any plane from the horizontal to the vertical for the sealing operation with the preferred construction. As a result, the package may be oriented to best suit the particular package construction, the nature of the article being packaged, the preferences of the machine operator handling the packages, or space and location limitations.

The invention further contemplates automatically feeding the cards and products as assembled units to the sealing station so that the handling of the packages and products are minimized. In the preferred construction, a folded card with an article in the pocket is supported for movement in slots provided in spaced tracks that define a path of card movement. The path extends from a loading station to a sealing station and terminates beyond the sealing station at a hopper. Marginal edges on opposite sides of each card are engaged within the slots and a reciprocating feeding mechanism slides the cards along the tracks from the loading station to the sealing station. The tracks hold the cards closed, and accurately position and independently support each card between the two spaced platens of the sealing station.

With packages such as those described it is desirable to have a seal around the perimeter of each product pocket and around the perimeter of the card. One of the principal problems of heat sealing these packages is the problem of maintaining the halves of the packages relatively oriented and sufiiciently closed to be fed between two heat platens without interfering with the formation of these two perimeter seals.

The Watts et a1. application teaches one solution to this problem. There, the disclosed heating mechanism utilizes a card which has a so-called score seal along one side. That is the container is folded along its score line and sealed in a small area adjacent that score line to maintain the card in its folded condition. For certain kinds of products this is advantageous in that the product can be dropped in the pocket and held there by the inherent resiliency of the card. The portion of the card where the score seal has been effected is positioned in a track. The remainder of the card is received between sealing platens. The score seal, when used with the heat sealing mechanism of the Watts et al. application, provides a presealed portion which extends from the heat sealing area to the supporting track during the time when the remainder of the package is heat sealed. As a result, the finished package is completely sealed.

With certain types of products, such as liquids or powders, it will be apparent that the vertical orientation and score seal card and technique used and disclosed in the Watts et a1. application is not suitable. Thus, the score sealing technique, while overcoming the problem discussed above for some types of products, Will not solve this problem for all products.

In the past, a number of proposals have been made for holding the card halves oriented and closed until a heat seal is effected. For example, some types of conveying devices index a package to a sealing station and then release their grip of the package allowing the sealing platen slots. This permits a heat seal to be formed around substantially the entire perimeter of the package and around the perimeter of the product with a mechanism which maintains the card halves positively oriented relatively and closed until the heat seal is effected.

, To retain the proper position of the track assembly with respect to the platens during any adjustment of platen orientation, the track and both platens are supported as a unit for pivotal adjustment relative to the supporting frame of the machine. In addition, the reciprocating feeding mechanism and power means for moving the opposed platens between open and closed positions are also secured to the platen support for movement with the platen support and platens during pivotal adjustment of the platen orientation. Thus, all operative parts adjust together when the angular disposition of the platens is changed.

The preferred feeding mechanism is also self-ejecting. Thus, the sealed packages are automatically moved from the sealing station and ejected from the conveying track I into a suitable hopper or the like by the incoming card being moved between the platens by the reciprocating feeding mechanism. The leading portion of each card along the track engages the trailing edge of the preceding card and in this manner all the cards in the track are advanced during each feeding cycle. This feeding and self-ejecting feature adds to the versatility and the rapid, economical operation characterizing the invention.

Although the invention is particularly useful for sealing packages of the type described in US. Patent No. 3,053,023, many of the same advantages can be obtained when sealing other forms of displayed packages. For example, fold-over type blister card packages can be handled and heat sealed in the same manner described above and to be described in more detail below. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particularly disclosed package construction which has been chosen for purposes of describing to those skilled in the art one application in which the application has particular utility. Accordingly, the term pocket as used herein is intended to include rigid blisters which may initially be separate from an apertured card and secured in place during packaging, as well as flexible or rigid pockets that initially form an integral part of the card.

Other features and attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention showing the general arrangement of parts;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1 showing details of the supporting mechanism for the sealing platens;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 2, showing details of the platen supporting arms and the card feeding mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a folded card of a type sealed with the disclosed apparatus, having a single pocket and suitable for packaging products such as liquids or powders;

FIGURE 5'is a side elevational view of the apparatus showing the platens in a different orientation relative to the base of the machine and also showing the arrangement of a track for supporting cards to be sealed;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus, with parts removed, showing the construction and arrangement of the conveying track and feeding mechanism, and illustrating the manner in which cards are supported; and

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE 6, showing further details of the track'and feeding mechanism.

I Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGURES l4 in particular, a unit display package to be sealed by the apparatus and methods of this invention is indicated by reference numeral 20. As generally described above, the unit display package 20 comprises a folded card 21'. The card 21 has an aperture 22 formed in one card half, and this aperture preferably has the contour of the article to be packaged. A similar card 20' with two apertures for an article like a light bulb is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. A sheet of plastic film 24, such as polyethylene film, i adhered to the inner surface of the card 21 over the aperture or apertures. As shown, the film 24 is drawn through the aperture to form a pocket 25 which has th contour of the product and which cooperate to define a product contoured chamber when the sections of the card 21 are secured together.

The apparatus comprising the invention is indicated by reference numeral 30. The apparatus includes a supporting frame or base structure 32, a second support member 34 pivotal on the base 32, a sealing apparatus 36 and a conveying apparatus 38 both carried by the second support member. 7

The base structure 32 provides a fixed support for the second support member and the sealing and conveying apparatus. In the embodiment shown, the base structure 32 includes frame members 40 to which a fiat base plate 46 is secured. Two spaced upright support plates 48, 49 are secured to the base plate 46. Each of the upright support plates 48, 49 has a curved adjustment slot 52, see FIGURE 3. Apivot shaft 54 formed of a rod with threaded ends extends between the two upright support plates 48, 49 above and parallel to the base plate 46. The second support member 34 is carried on the pivot shaft 54 and is pivotally adjustable relative to the base structure 32. The second support member includes two spaced vertical side plates 56, 57 supported for rotation on the pivot shaft 54. A bottom tie plate 58 connects the lower ends of the two side plates 56, 57. A cap screw 60 extends through the curved adjustment slot 52 of upright support plate 49 and is threadedly secured to the side plate 57 of the second support member 34. A similar cap' screw 62 cooperates with an adjustment slot in the support plate 48 and is secured to the side plate 56. The cap screws 60, 62 are spaced from the pivot shaft 54 and, when tightened, lock the second support member 34 against pivotal movement about the shaft 54. When the cap screws 60, 62 are loosened, the second support member 34 can be angularly adjusted relative to the base within the range permitted by the slot 52. In the embodimem shown rotation of 90 degrees is provided. Compare FIG- URES 3 and 4, where the platens are shown horizontal and vertical, respectively.

The second support 34 has two pair of stop members 64, 66 for controlling the location of the platens in closed position. The stop members 64 are resiliently mounted at the upper end of each side plate 56, 57 by a plunger 67 and spring 68. The stop members 66 are threadedly received in the back surface of the tie plate 58 and are adjustable. The manner in which the stop members cooperate with the platen assembly to control the location of the platens in closed position, will be described subsequently.

The sealing apparatus, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, comprises an upper platen assembly 74 and a lower platen assembly 76. Each upper and lower platen assembly is supported for movement between open and closed positions on pivotal arms. The upper platen assembly 74 is supported by two upper pivot arms and the lower platen assembly is supported'on two lower pivot arms 82. The two lower arms are located directly beneath operate with the stop member 64 when the platens are closed. Each arm 80 further includes a depending offset portion 800 secured to a horizontal gear shaft 90. The shaft 90 extends between side plates 56, 57 and supports the arms 80 for rotation.

The lower arms 82 are both identical and each is similar to the arms 80. Each has an elongated forward portion 82:: that supports the lower platen assembly 76. A rearward portion 82b is secured to one end of a transverse cylinder shaft 92. The opposite end of the shaft 92 is carried in the rear portion of the second lower pivot arm. The arm portion 8212 includes a flat offset surface 89 adapted to cooperate with the stop member 66 when the arm 82 is in a position where the platens are closed. The arm 82 includes an upward offset portion 820 that is supported on a horizontal gear shaft 94 directly below the gear shaft 90 andalso supported for rotation in the two spaced side plates 56, 57 of the second supporting mechanism 34. With this arrangement, the upper arms 80 and the lower arms 82 are mounted for pivotal movement about the gear shafts 90, 94, respectively.

The air cylinder 84 pivotally secured to the rearwardly extending portions 80b of the upper arms 80 actuates the upper and lower arms to pivot the arms about the gear shafts 90, 94 to open and close the upper and lower platen assemblies 74, 76. The cylinder 84 is a double acting cylinder and has a piston (not shown) with an extending piston rod 98. The piston rod 98 carries a rod eye 99, which encircles the cylinder shaft 92 extending between the lower pivot arms 82. Air supplied under pressure to one end of the piston 84 causes the piston rod 98 to extend or retract, causing the rearward portions of the upper and lower pivot arms 80, 82 to be drawn closer together or forced farther apart. This pivots the arms 80, 82 about the gear shafts 90, 94, moving the platen assemblies 74, 76 between open and closed positions. A spur gear 102 is secured to the shaft 90 and a spur gear 104 is secured to the shaft 94, each gear being pinned to the respective shaft and intermeshed together. These gears assure that each of the upper pivot arms and lower pivot arms move an equal distance in response to the actuation of the cylinder 84. This provides positive, coordinated rotation of the arms and hence controlled movement of the upper and lower platen assemblies.

. The extent to which the upper and lower arms 80, 82 pivot in response to actuation of the cylinder 84 is determined by the length of the stroke of the piston during opening movement and is determined by the stop members 66 and 64 during closing. The resilient stop members 64 assure that the lower pivot arm 82 and lower platen assembly 76 will always be stopped in a position with the offset stop surface 89 of the arms 82 in abutment with the adjustable stop members 66. This is because movement of eitherthe upper or lower arms cannot occur without corresponding movement of the other, due to the spur gears. Thus, when the lower arms 82 are in proper position and contact the abutment 66, the movement of both arms stops. However, contact of the upper arms with the resilient abutments 64 will not prevent further movement of the lower arms 82 (and also the upper arms) if the abutment 66 has not been contacted. The resilient abutment 64 assures the proper positioning of the platens notwithstanding wear of the gears 102, 104 or other parts.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the upper platen assembly 74 is secured to the arms 80 for relative movement and is resiliently biased away from the arms. A mounting plate 106 is secured directly to the forward portion 80a of the arms 80. A second mounting plate 108 is spaced from the plate 106 and secured to an upper heating plate 110. An upper die plate 112 is carried just beneath the heating plate. Adjusting rods 114 extend through the arm 80 and are secured behind the mounting plate 108. Recesses 116 in the upper heater plate 110' receive fiat heads 117 of the adjusting rods 114. Clearance is provided between the flat heads 117 and the die plate 112 to permit vertical movement of the mounting plate 108 and the attached heater plate and die plate 74 relative to the upper mounting plate 106 and arm 80. Coil springs 120 surround the adjusting rods 114 and are received within bores in the arms 80. The springs bias the mounting plate 108 and attach upper platen assembly away from the mounting plate 106. The gap provided beneath the flat head portions 117 of the adjusting rods 114 allows the upper platen assembly 74 to be moved upward against the biasing force of the coil springs 120 when the platens are closed. This clamps a card in the sealing position between the opposed platens with a substantially uniform pressure determined by the springs and accommodates variations in card thickness that necessitate a slight difference in the spacing between the closed platens.

The lower platen assembly 76 includes a lower mounting plate 122 fixed to the arm -82 and an upper mounting plate 124 fixed to a heater plate 126 and a die plate 128. The mounting plate 122, 124 are infixed relationship with each other and are secured together by connectors 130.

The upper and lower die plates 112 and 128 are mirror images of each other, and each includes a large central cavity 132, 134, respectively, that provides space for the article in the pocket of the package. Face portions 136, 138 of the upper and lower die plates, respectively, abut each other around the cavities 132, 134 and are adapted to engage the face surfaces of the card and provide a heat-seal about the pocket when pressure and heat are applied in the known manner. Upper and lower grooves 139, 141 in the die plates 112, 128 extend through the dies adjacent outer portion of the cavities and similar slots 143, 145 extend along the inner side of the cavities to receive track members that hold the cards. As shown in FIGURE 3, the dies 112, 128 in closed position define a common plane between the two coincident with the path of card movement, as will be brought out subsequently.

The conveyor apparatus 38 supports and moves the card-type packages from a loading station LS to a heat sealing station HSS, as best shown in FIGURE 6. The conveyor apparatus includes a housing 140, a track 142 and feeding mechanism 144.

The housing 140 is elongated and extends parallel to a predetermined path of travel of the cards and, as best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and is secured directly to the side plates 56, 57 of the second support member behind the platen assemblies 74, 76. Because the housing is mounted directly to the second support member, it moves with the sealing apparatus 36 when the second support member is pivoted to adjust the orientation of the sealing mechanism.

An air cylinder 146 is located within the housing 140 to actuate the feeding mechanism 144. A piston rod 148 extends from the cylinder 146 within the housing and reciprocates in a plane parallel to the plane passing between the closed platen assemblies 74, 76. The end of the piston rod 148 is attached to the feeding mechanism 150 within the housing 140. The feeding mechanism 144 is reciprocal on upper and lower slide shafts 152, 154. An arm 156 extends as a part of the feeding mechanism 144 through a longitudinal slot 158 (see FIGURES 3 and 7) in the housing 140. The arm 156 is located parallel to but below the common plane between the opposing faces of the upper and lower platens when they are in closed position and extends to approximately midway the width of the platens. A finger 160 as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 extends at right angles from the arm 156 through the common plane between the platens and is adapted to engage a card to be conveyed.

The air cylinder 146 is a double acting cylinder and is supported for longitudinal movement within the housing 140. Such movement of the cylinder is controlled by a threaded shaft 162 to which an adjustment knob 164 is attached. This arrangement of the cylinder, piston rod, feeding mechanism and adjustment means is identical to the construction shown and described in the said copending application Sen-No. 316,765. For details of this construciion, reference may be had to the said copending application.

The track generally indicated at 142 extends along the housing 140 in the general plane that is located by the abutment of the closed platen assemblies 74, 76. The track receives and supports loaded cards to be sealed, maintains the cards in closed position and guides each card as it is moved by the feeding mechanism from a loading station to the sealing station between the platens.

Two spaced tracks 168, 170 extend parallel to each other in a common plane and are spaced apart a distance determined by the width of the card to be sealed. Tne details of the track construction are best understood from FIGURES 7, the orientation in FIGURE 5 being 90 degrees displaced from the orientation from FIGURES 6 and 7, but identical in construction. For convenience of illustration and also to show one manner of using the apparatus for sealing vertically oriented cards with only the lower edge engaged by a track, as in the said Watts et al. application, the outer rails 172, 174 are shown in a position beyond, i.e., outside the platens. The rails 172, 174 can, of course, be located within the grooves of the platens when the platens are vertical, just as they are when the platens are horizontal, as in FIGURE 3. For convenience, the elements of the track will be referred to in relation to a horizontal orientation of the track and platens.

The track 168 farther from the housing 140 is considered the outside track and the track 170 is considered the inside track. Track 168 includes an upper rail 172 and a lower rail 174 spaced apart to define a slot the width of the thickness of the cards being packaged. A guide 176 is positioned to the outside of the track 168 parallel to the rails 172, 174 and positioned intersecting the plane of the slot between the two rails. This provides an edge guide for the card and restrains the card from lateral displacement Within the rails 168, 170.

The inside rail 170 is similarly constructed of an upper rail 178 and a lower rail 180 spaced to provide a slot between the two, and a guide 182 extends parallel to the rails 178, 180 opposite the slot and serves as an inside guide for the inside edge of a card supported between the upper and lower rails. The guides 176, 182 are positioned as closely together as is possible while still permitting closure of the platens between them.

Spaced upper brackets 186 and lower brackets 188 are secured to the housing 140 and extend above and below the path of card travel formed by the racks 168, 170 and serve to support the tracks. Each upper bracket 186 has two depending fingers 190, 191 to which the respective rails 172, 178 are secured in spaced relationship. The fingers 190, 191 are slidable in an elongated slot 192 in the brackets 186 and the positions can be adjusted to accommodate different width cards. Upstanding fingers 193, 194 extend from the lower brackets 188 and support the rails 174, 180, respectively. These fingers are similarly adjustablein an elongated slot 195. The inside guide 182 is secured directly to the face plate of the housing 140, and the outside guide 176 is secured by a finger 198 to the slot 195 of each lower bracket 188.

The manner in which a card is held within the tracks 168, 170 is best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. Oppositely disposed longitudinally extending marginal edges of the card are received in the slots between the upper and lower rails of the tracks. The inner and outer edge of the card abut the facing surfaces of the guides 176 and 182. The rails and guides hold the card closed and prevent transverse movement of the card relative to the housing 140. The guides 176, 182assure that the card remains in proper alignment for movement from the loading station to the sealing station. In instances where it may not be necessary to firmly retain the card halves together prior to sealing, as accomplished by the upper and lower rails, the upper rail 172 of the outer track 168 can be removed or omitted.

The lower rail is still used to support the weight of the card when the platens are horizontally oriented and the guide 176 retains the card in proper alignment.

As best shown in FIGURE 7, the upper rails 172, 178 are shorter than the lower rails 174, 180. At the loading station LS, only a beveled end 200 of each upper rail extends over the lower rail. The upper rails extend from the loading station through the heat station. The tracks extend a slight distance beyond the heat sealing station in the direction of card movement. The shorter length and beveled ends of the upper rails 172, 178 facilitate the loading of a card into the tracks for subsequent conveying. A finger of the feeding mechanism 144 extends through the plane of the tracks 168, so that it can engage the trailing edge 201 of a display package 20 in the loading station LS.

The operation of the above described apparatus is similar to the operation of the apparatus shown and described in the said copending application. The outer track 168 may be removed or moved as shown in FIGURE 5 to permit the operation to be identical except for the elimination of the need for a score seal because the rails 178, extend through platen slots 143, 145, FIGURE 3. A summary of operation is included here for convenience, it being understood that many of the control elements, such as a control limit switch, a timer, a control valve to the air cylinder of the feeding mechanism and air cylinder of the platens, etc., are all specifically disclosed in the said copending application.

In operation, an operator takes a card such as the card 20 with a double pocket shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, loads an article, e.g., a light bulb LB, to be packaged within one of the pockets, folds the card closed, and inserts an edge of the card beneath the beveled ends 200 of the upper rails 172, 178 at the loading station LS. This holds the card closed. The remainder of the card rests upon the lower rails 174, 180, between the guides 176, 182. By operating a switch, the operator causes air pressure to be introduced through a control valve to the air cylinder 146, causing a retraction of the piston rod 148 and a movement of a feeding mechanism 144 from the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 toward the heat sealing station HSS.

The finger 160 of the feeding mechanism 144 engages the trailing edge 2.01 of the card 20' and slides the card relative to the supporting tracks 168, 17 0 from the loading station LS to the heating sattion HSS. The extent to which the card is moved is dependent upon the stroke of the air cylinder 146 and the position of the air cylinder. The position of the air cylinder is changed by rotation of the hand wheel 164 and threaded shaft 162 to facilitate different size cards. When the card reaches the heat-sealing station between the open platens 74, 76 the feeding mechanism 144 contacts a limit switch which reverses the flow of air to the cylinder 146 causing the feeding mechanism to return to the original position.

Actuation of the air cylinder 84 to close the heat sealing platens is under control of the same limit switch. A slight delay is provided to permit the feeding mechanism 144 to move back from the heat sealing station before the platens close. The platens are closed in response to the introduction of air to the cylinder 84 which extends thepiston rod 98, forcing the rear portions of the upper and lower pivot arms apart and closing the upper. and lowe heat sealing platens about the card 20. v

Grooves or slots 139, 141, 143, 145 in the upper, an lower die plates 112, 128 accommodate the rails 172, 174,

178, 180, respectively, so that the card is constantly main;

tained in proper position during the cycle of operation. The edges of the card extending beyond the rails to the guides 176, 182 are located between the platens to the outside of the grooves and, hence, the edges are sealed, as in the perimeter around the pocket of the card.

The lower sealing platen is always positioned in proper relationship to the plane defined by the slots in the tracks 9 168, 170 by virtue of the adjustable fixed stops 66 that determine the precise position of the lower platen. Adequate pressure on the card is assured by the biasing force of the springs. 120;,interposed the upper platen assembly 74 andthe upper. pivot arms 80. The dwell of the platens in their closed position is controlled by a timer T on a control console C, and the heated platens 74, 76 aremaintained closed for a length of time sufficient to soften the heat-sealablefilm of the card and to seal the sections of the folded card together. At the end of the dwell period, the air cylinder 84 is actuated to retract the piston rod 98 and pivot the platens apart.

- Duringthe heat sealing of the sections of a card in the sealing station, the feeding mechanism 144 has returned to its original position so that a new card can be inserted inthe tracks at the loading station preparatory to the next cycle. \Each cycle is completed at the endof the dwell periodof the platens, as set by the timer. In the next cycle, forward movement of the feeding mechanism 144 engages a card in the loading station and slides it forward into the heat sealing station. The leading edge of this card engages the trailing edge of the card just sealed and the two cards are advanced the distance of the stroke of the heating mechanism. In this manner, the feeding mechanism is effective to feed the packages step-wise from the loading station to the heat sealing station and from the heat sealing station to the end of the support track. In this manner, sealed packages are automatically ejected from the support track as cards are fed to the sealing station.

. Because of the track construction, the cards, even if held in a vertical plane, are secured in proper relationship to the platens. It will be readily apparent that the second support member and sealing and conveying apparatus may be adjusted to intermediate positions between the two positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 and held in place by the clamping action of the cap screws 62.

, While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described in detail, numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

. What is claimed is:

d1. In apparatus for sealing .a card-type package having an article containing pocket: a base, a support member carried by the base and angularly movable relative to the base about a horizontal axis, package sealing means and conveying means carried by said support member for angular movement therewith, said conveying means including two spaced tracks extending parallel to said horizontal axis defining a path of card travel and means for moving a card along said tracks, said package sealing meansincluding two heat-sealing platensone opposite the other 'on oppositesides of the path, said platens being movable between an open position and a closed position and defining in closed position a common plane between the two coincident with the path of card travel, whereby the orientation of the package sealing means and the conveying means can be changed about a horizontal axis relative to'the base while a fixed relationship is maintained between said sealing means and conveying means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each heatsealing platen is pivotally connected to said support member about an axis parallel to said horizontal axis for movement between said open and closed positions.

Apparatus as set forthin claim 2 including a fluid actuator eartied by and connectedto the two platens for pivoting: the platens between said open and closed positions.

4. Apparatus as setforth in (claim 1 wherein each of said two spaced tracks defines a slot that extends in said common plane and between the opposed platens.

5. Apparatus asset forth in claim 1 wherein said two spaced tracks extend between a card-type package loading station and the sealing means and said means for moving acardalong said tracks. includes a reciprocable abutment meansfor directly engaging a card-type package at the loading station to move the engaged package into contact with a preceding card-type package supported for movement along said tracks and to advance the engaged package and said preceding package along the track.

6. In apparatus for sealing together two face-to-face panel portions of a card-type package: a base, a track supported by the base for slidably receiving a card-type package and defining a longitudinal path of travel, conveying means for moving a card-type package along said track, and package sealing means including two heat-sealing platensone opposite the other on opposite sides of the path of package travel, movable between an open position and a closed position and defining in closed position a common plane between the two coincident with the path of package travel, said track having longitudinally extending rail portions defining a longitudinal slot through which panel portions of the package extend transversely from said rail portions and a longitudinal abutment parallel to and aligned with the slot to abut a longitudinally extending edge of the package to limit the transverse distance that the panel portions can extend through the slot and to guide the longitudinal movement of the package, said longitudinal abutment being spaced from the rail portions transversely of the path of travel to provide space therebetween to receive portions of said sealing platens, said platens each including sealing portions spaced apart transversely of said path of travel to receive a rail portion therebetween and to contact panel portions of the package on opposite sides of the rail portion whereby the edge portion of the package between the rail portions and the longitudinal abutment as well as a portion of the package inwardly of the rail portions can be sealed.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said track, conveying means and sealing means are carried by a support member pivotally attached to said. base for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each heatsealing platen is pivotally connected to said support member about an axis parallel to said horizontal axis of adjustment for movement between said open and closed positions.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a second track parallel to the first said track for slidably receiving panel portions of a package carried by the first said track.

10. In apparatus for sealing a card-type package having an article containing pocket: a base, means supported by the base for supporting a card for movement relative to the base and defining a path of card movement, means for moving a card along the path, two heat-sealing platens one opposite the other on opposite sides of the path, said platens being movable between an open position and a closed position and defining in closed position a common plane between the two coincident with the path of card movement, supporting means on the base for supporting the platens as a unit for adjustment relative to the base to change the orientation of the common plane between the closed platens relative to the base, and means for mounting the platens for pivotal movement relative to the supporting means, each about an axis that extends parallel to the path of movement, said means mounting the platens for pivotal movement including arms secured to the platens and pivotally mounted relative to the base, and including a fluid actuator carried by and connected between the arms for pivoting the arms.

11. In apparatus for sealing a card-type package having an article containing pocket: a base, means supported by the base for supporting a card for movement relative to the base and defining a path of card movement, means for moving a card along the path, two heat-sealing platens one opposite the other on opposite sides of the path, said platens being movable between an open position and a closed position and defining in closed position a common plane between the two coincident with the path of card movement, and means on the base for supporting the 1 1 platens as a unit for adjustment relative 'to the base to change the orientation of the common plane between the closed platens relative to the base, said platen supporting means including first support structure fixed to the base, a second-support carried by the first support structure for pivotal movement with respect thereto and means carried by the second support mounting the platens for movement relative to the second support between open and closed positions, said last-mentioned means including arms secured to the platens, carried by the second support for pivotal movement relative thereto, and interconnected for positively coordinated rotation, and said second support including two spaced stop members constructed and arranged to cooperate with the arms secured to the platens to limit movement of the arms, one stop being adjustable '12 and non-resilient and cooperating with one' of the arms and the other stop being resilient and cooperating with the other arm whereby the one arm cooperating with the non-resilient, adjustable, stop can always abut the stop in a terminal position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,863,267 12/1958 Moore 53-373 X 2,865,425 12/ 1958 Byers. 3,118,262 1/1964 Messick 53-373 X 3,279,150 10/1966 Watts et al 53-373 TRAVIS s. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,404 ,511 October 8 1968 Ridley Watts, Jr. et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 10, line 19, "from said" should read beyond the Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

